Key Takeaways
- Greece approves controversial law extending maximum workday to 13 hours
- Government claims reform is optional and limited to 37 days annually
- Labor unions stage mass protests amid cost-of-living crisis
- Greeks already work longest hours in the European Union
Greece’s parliament has passed sweeping labor reforms allowing private sector employers to implement 13-hour workdays, sparking widespread protests across the country. The legislation expands the traditional eight-hour workday framework amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Political Divide and Worker Backlash
The government-backed bill was approved by the ruling majority, with opposition parties condemning it as “pushing the country back to the Middle Ages.” Some lawmakers labeled the legislation a “legislative monstrosity” that erodes fundamental worker protections.
According to Eurostat data, Greek workers already average 40 hours weekly – the highest in the EU compared to the bloc’s average of 35 hours.
Government’s Defense of Reforms
The administration argues the changes will modernize outdated labor laws while maintaining worker protections. Officials emphasize that extended shifts will be:
- Completely optional for employees
- Limited to private sector only
- Capped at 37 days per year
Government representatives claim the reform enables workers to earn additional income with their primary employer rather than seeking multiple part-time jobs.
Union Resistance and Public Anger
Labor unions have organized two general strikes this month alone, with the most recent occurring Tuesday. The public-sector union ADEDY warned the law represents “the abolition of the eight-hour day, the destruction of family and social life, and the legalization of over-exploitation.”
“When the rest of Europe is discussing shorter hours, in Greece we’re increasing them,” a Greek bartender told Reuters, highlighting how his rent doubled within two years.
Union leaders argue the reform undermines worker bargaining power in a nation struggling with undeclared labor and low wages.
“You can’t really refuse; they always find ways to impose what they want,” a 46-year-old construction worker protesting in Thessaloniki told AFP.
Economic Context and Precedent
Greece continues recovering from its decade-long debt crisis that ended in 2018 after severe austerity measures wiped out a quarter of its economy. Wages remain below pre-crisis levels, and Greek purchasing power ranks among the lowest in the EU.
This reform follows the government’s 2024 introduction of a six-day work week in specific sectors, signaling a consistent trend toward extended working hours as an economic growth strategy.
